Percutaneous drug delivery system

Abstract

A percutaneous drug delivery system, method, and kit are disclosed. The method comprises applying an enzyme preparation to a localized area of skin for a predetermined amount of time to enhance that area of skin's permeability to selected drugs, occluding the area of skin during the application, and then applying the selected drug(s) to the area of skin to allow the drug to penetrate through the skin and into the circulatory system of the animal. Greatly enhanced penetration of chemicals through the skin results from the enzyme treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a method of applying a percutaneously administrable therapeutic drug for penetration through the skin of an animal, the improvement comprising: applying an enzyme preparation to a localized area of vital skin of said animal for a predetermined amount of time and in a sufficient quantity to alter the structure of the localized area of vital skin without damaging said skin to facilitate penetration of a drug therethrough;   occluding the localized area of skin with occlusion means during said predetermined amount of time;   removing said occlusion means; and   applying an effective amount of said percutaneously administrable therapeutic drug to the localized area of the skin for penetration of said therapeutic drug therethrough.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of occluding the localized area of skin after application of the drug. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined amount of time exceeds 24 hours. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said enzyme preparation contains papain and a buffered saline solution. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drug is a cationic chemical. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drug is an anionic chemical. 
     
     
       7. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drug is a highly polar nonionic chemical. 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drug is a highly nonpolar, nonionic chemical. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drug is a proteinaceous chemical. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 1 further including substantially removing the enzyme preparation from the skin before applying the drug to the localized area of skin. 
     
     
       11. In a method of applying a percutaneously administrable drug for penetration through the skin of an animal, the improvement comprising: applying an enzyme preparation to a localized area of vital skin of said animal for a predetermined amount of time and in a sufficient quantity to alter the structure of the localized area of vital skin without damaging said skin to facilitate penetration of a drug therethrough;   occluding the localized area of skin with occlusion means during said predetermined amount of time;   removing said occlusion means; and   applying an effective amount of said percutaneously administrable drug to the localized area of the skin, said drug being selected from the group consisting of ionic compounds, anionic compounds, cationic chemicals, zwitterionic chemicals, anionic chemicals and nonpolar chemicals.   
     
     
       12. In a method of applying a percutaneously administrable drug for penetration through the skin of an animal, the improvement comprising: applying an enzyme preparation to a localized area of vital skin of said animal for a predetermined amount of time and in a sufficient quantity to alter the structure of the localized area of vital skin without damaging said skin to facilitate penetration of a drug therethrough;   occluding the localized area of skin with occlusion means during said predetermined amount of time;   removing said occlusion means; and   applying an effective amount of said percutaneously administrable drug to the localized area of the skin, said drug being selected from the group consisting of hormones, quaternary compounds, anti-hypertensive agents, anti-nausea agents, anti-arrhythmics, and analgesics.